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Calgary grown FYidoctors celebrates 15-year milestone at their Annual General Meeting

May 2, 2023 | Articles , News

The Calgary-based company will welcome team members, business partners and prospective optometrists at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre from May 5 to 7.

FYidoctors, Canada’s leading diversified healthcare organization, is proud to welcome over 1,200 delegates to their annual general meeting (AGM) in Calgary, Alberta during Vision Health Month.

During the three-day event, FYidoctors teams will interact with their colleagues, learn from leadership, and gain insights from invited guest speakers. FYidoctors will also be hosting numerous Class of 2024 Optometry students from the University of Waterloo, Université de Montréal, Pacific University College of Optometry, and NECO – New England College of Optometry. In 2022, FYidoctors has committed over $5.2 million dollars towards optometry education and our Future Vision Leaders forgivable loan program.

Dr. Alan Ulsifer, Chair & CEO of FYidoctors, expresses his enthusiasm for this event sharing “15 years ago, a group of optometrists decided to do something that had never been done – consolidate the eye care industry. Now recognized by the Globe and Mail as one of Canada’s fastest growing companies, we have grown, learned, and used our special formula to expand eye care across Canada. Our 15th anniversary marks many awards and milestones. At our AGM in Calgary, we are leaning into a theme of Bringing our Best and are focused on continued excellence in patient care going forward.”

Many FYidoctors team members will be travelling to Calgary who have never been to Alberta before. FYidoctors partnered with Tourism Calgary to greet delegates with branded assets at the airport, along Stephen Avenue, and welcome signage at the host hotels (Marriot, Hyatt, and Palliser). With over 1,550 room nights booked in the heart of downtown Calgary, the event will generate significant tourism dollars for the city. “Calgary is delighted to welcome delegates to the FYidoctors AGM 2023,” said Blair Keating, Director of Business Development with Tourism Calgary. “We are thrilled to host the projected 1,200 attendees from coast-to-coast as they connect, collaborate and experience the city’s exceptional venues, accommodations and visitor experiences.”

FYidoctors home offices are in Mission Square, Calgary, and this is one of the largest AGMs in their history. “Calgary is where it all began, and I am very proud to see where our organization is today. A Calgary grown success story, and for three years in a row one of Canada’s Best Managed Company. Our accomplishments truly speak to engaging in the community and earning trust through living our values and being patient focused first,” shares Dr. Alan Ulsifer. Calgary themed events include a Sunday Stampede pancake breakfast, line dancing lessons, mechanical bull riding, and weekend western themed décor to showcase Calgary’s western heritage.

With over 50 clinics in Alberta, FYidoctors continues to establish themselves as a national organization that concentrates on delivering outstanding eye care treatments along with patient-centric products and services. In late 2022, FYidoctors opened their flagship clinic in Mission Square on 4 St. SW, located on the main floor of their corporate offices, along with their FYi University to help educate and train new optometrists on the latest state-of the-art optometric technology.

During the month of May, Vision Health Month, it is a time to generate awareness about eye health and ways to prevent vision loss. By having an eye exam, it can proactively support your overall eye health. To book an appointment, visit  www.fyidoctors.com

FYidoctors is Canada’s leading diversified healthcare organization. Doctor-led, professionally managed, and patient-focused, the organization concentrates on delivering outstanding eye care with patient-centric products and services. Recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2020, 2021 & 2022, the organization operates over 375 locations across the country. Rooted in a mission to enhance life, FYidoctors supports a wide array of philanthropic causes and initiatives. Through numerous community-centric programs and the Enhancing Life Foundation, FYidoctors enhances the lives of Canadians both inside and outside its clinic doors. For more information, please visit  www.fyidoctors.com.

SOURCE FYidoctors

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Professional speaker, writer, broadcaster, international nature tour guide, and naturalist.

Welcome, Nature Enthusiasts!

I have been exploring the world near and far since the young age of 12, when I acquired my first camera and binoculars. I have specialized in both polar regions, various wildlife rich countries in Africa, the Galápagos & Ecuador, and our own Canadian west coast, traveling up to 6 months during the year.

My philosophy? It’s nicely illustrated with the 2-minute video below. Enjoy the adventure!

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“I wanted to thank you again for your amazing presentation last night. Your passion, experiences and admiration comes out in your presentations and that is what makes it so great. Be proud of what you do and what you are part of.”

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“Your presentation was superb. Funny, contemplative and animated. We loved it. One of our best-ever keynotes. Folks were talking about it all weekend. Thx so much and a distinct pleasure to meet you.”

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“Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed this adventure of a lifetime, my seventh continent–penguins, seals, zodiacs, ice, the ocean. I will forever be in your debt for your irrepressible good humour, incomparable expertise and above all, your generosity of spirit. Many, many thanks.”

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City of Calgary investigated councillor due to residency concerns

Coun. shane keating disappointed by city's methods, hiring external lawyer.

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CBC News has learned that the City of Calgary investigated a member of city council this year because of concerns he may have moved to Saskatchewan.

Coun. Shane Keating was investigated by the city, after the organization wanted to ensure no rules had been broken. 

Under provincial law, local politicians must reside in the community they are elected in.

The investigation concluded Keating still lives in Calgary, but as he prepares to leave office after 11 years on council, the episode has left a sour impression on him.

"I'm really disappointed in how this was handled," said Keating.

The fact that he has spent time in Saskatoon over the past 22 months is not a secret.

Wife needed cancer treatments

Keating says his wife was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. As both she and Keating have family supports there, she went to Saskatchewan for her treatment.

The councillor has spent time since then travelling to and from Saskatoon to help care for his spouse.

He said he cleared the situation with council's ethics advisor and senior city officials were aware of the situation.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, travel restrictions made it difficult for him to move between the provinces.

During that time and into 2021, he estimates he was out of Calgary for no longer than two months at a stretch.

He still took part in council meetings remotely and travelled frequently to Calgary for his responsibilities.

As well, he said he maintained his permanent residence in Calgary and kept his Alberta drivers license, health card and all other connections to the city.

However, the city decided to investigate whether had moved to Saskatchewan and become a resident there, something that would make him ineligible to sit on city council.

Outsider hired

An external lawyer was hired by the city as part of that investigation.

Last March, the city sent him a letter with a list of questions as part of its investigation.

The first question was:  "When did you move to Saskatchewan?"

Keating said he was extremely disappointed with what he calls the city's totally inappropriate approach instead of just sitting down and talking with him.

He wrote out a response to the city's questionnaire.

"Your first question is making an assumption rather than asking a question and all your other questions are immaterial to the question you're asking. So why are we having this?" said Keating.

The city also asked Keating to respond to questions well beyond the scope of the requirements to be a city councillor, including asking him where his family resided, whether he had a telephone land line in Calgary and where he performs any volunteer activities.

Keating said after the investigation concluded there was no issue, he received an apology from the city manager and the city clerk for the way the process went.

Top official defends decision

City manager David Duckworth said it was just due diligence that administration decided to look into Keating's residency following news reports and chatter on social media that he no longer lived in Calgary.

"Of course, it's a legal requirement for a member of a council to reside in the municipality where they serve," said Duckworth. "We were really bound to look into this."

He said an external lawyer was hired to oversee the process to both ensure this was an independent investigation of a sitting council member and to not add to existing workloads in the city's law department.

Duckworth estimates the outside legal work cost the city about $3,800.

As for the questions Keating was asked, the city manager said he was unaware of the specifics as that work was up to the investigator.

However, he said that he did apologize to Keating for the way the matter was handled but that the three term councillor understood the city had to take steps to ensure there were no violations of provincial legislation.

"Coun. Keating and I have had several conversations and I know his feelings were hurt. He was an incredible member of our council that led with incredibly high ethics," said Duckworth.

Keating has packed up his councillor office as he chose not to run in this month's municipal election. His term officially ends on Oct. 25.

As for what's next after politics, Keating said that he does plan to move to Saskatoon permanently in the near future and enjoy retirement.

Related Stories

• Top stories from CBC Calgary
• Calgary Coun. Sean Chu announces he will not be stepping down from city council
• Calgary man charged in fatal downtown shooting after national search

An Evening with Brian Keating

• March 2, 2024

Brian Keating is coming back to the Dalhousie Community Association for another fantastic presentation on April 11, 2024.

Artificial Intelligence in the Wild & Alpine Highlife. Tickets are $25 pre-purchase and $30 at the Door (If tickets still available).

To buy tickets, visit BRIAN KEATING TICKETS

Brian Keating

Presenter/producer.

For nearly three decades between 1983 and 2011, Medicine Hat-born naturalist Brian Keating served as the Calgary Zoo’s Head of Education & Conservation Outreach. In that capacity, he spearheaded global environmental efforts that lead Reader’s Digest Magazine to name him “Canadian Hero of the Year.”

He has inspired countless people through his documentaries, regular appearances on the Discovery Channel, weekly segments on CBC Radio, five children’s books, and international public speaking. For three decades, Keating has led nature-based trips to some of the world’s best wildlife areas.

If you would like to learn more about Brian Keating, please visit: www.goingwild.org

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